Safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle

Abstract

A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle in which the door can not be opened or closed by a driver from a remote position when a passenger is in an abnormal sitting position, for instance, when he is leaning against the door or when he is getting out of the vehicle. Furthermore, in the safe remote-control device according to the present invention, it is possible to open the door which is currently being closed if the passenger is getting out of the vehicle. The safe remote-control device comprises one or two abnormal sitting position detection switches of the pressure-sensitive type, which are disposed under the trim of the seat near the door, or under the lining on an inner door panel, in addition to the conventional remote-control door opening-and-closing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle for opening and closing a vehicle door from a remote position while protecting passengers from injury, which comprises: (a) a door open-and-close mechanism linked to the vehicle door for opening and closing the vehicle door;   (b) a driving device linked to said door open-and-close mechanism for driving said door open-and-close mechanism, said driving device being adapted to drive said door open-and-close mechanism in a first normal direction and a second reverse direction;   (c) a door open switch connected in series with said driving device for operating said driving device in the first normal direction;   (d) a door close switch connected in series with said driving device for operating said driving device in the second reverse direction; and   (e) an abnormal sitting position detection switch for detecting that one of the passengers is in an abnormal sitting position and for preventing said driving device from driving said door open-and-close mechanism in the first normal direction in response to said door open switch and in the second reverse direction in response to said door close switch when a passenger is detected to be in an abnormal sitting position.   
     
     
       2. A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said abnormal position detection switch comprises: (a) a first pressure-sensitive switch connected in series between said door open switch and said driving device for preventing said driving device from driving said door open-and-close mechanism in the door-open direction when opened in response to pressure against a position on the vehicle door occupied when a passenger is leaning against the vehicle door; and   (b) a second pressure-sensitive switch connected in series between said door close switch and said driving device for preventing said driving device from driving said door open-and-close mechanism in the door-close direction when opened in response to pressure against a position occupied when a passenger is getting in or out of the vehicle.   
     
     
       3. A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said abnormal sitting position detection switch serves to cause said driving device to drive said door open-and-close mechanism in the door open direction in response to said door close switch and not to drive said door open-and-close mechanism in the door close direction in response to said door open switch. 
     
     
       4. A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein said abnormal sitting position switch comprises: (a) a pressure sensitive switch closing in response to pressure against a position occupied when a passenger is getting in or out of the vehicle; and   (b) a normally-closed contact connected in series with said door close switch;   (c) a normally-open contact connected between a point between said door open switch and said driving device and a point between said door close switch and said normally-closed contact; and   (d) a relay coil connected in series with said pressure-sensitive switch for opening said normally-closed contact and for closing said normally-open contact when said pressure sensitive switch is closed.   
     
     
       5. A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle for opening and closing a vehicle door from a remote position while protecting passengers from injury, which comprises: (a) a door open-and-close mechanism linked to the vehicle door for opening and closing the vehicle door;   (b) a driving device linked to said door open-and-close mechanism for driving said door open-and-close mechanism, said driving device being provided with a normal revolution terminal and a reverse revolution terminal;   (c) a door open switch connected in series with the normal revolution terminal of said driving device for operating said driving device, when closed, in the normal direction that the door is opened;   (d) a door close switch connected in series with the reverse revolution terminal of said driving device for operating said driving device, when closed, in the reverse direction that the door is closed; and   (e) an abnormal passenger sitting position detection switch for detecting that one of the passengers is in an abnormal sitting position, which includes: (1) a first normally-closed contact connected in series with the normal revolution terminal of said driving device and said door open switch, said first contact being opened only when one of the passengers is in an abnormal sitting position; and   (2) a second normally-closed contact connected in series with the reverse revolution terminal of said driving device and said door close switch, said second contact being also opened only when one of the passengers is in an abnormal sitting position, whereby the vehicle door can not be opened or closed if the passenger is in an abnormal sitting position.       
     
     
       6. A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle for opening and closing a vehicle door from a remote position while protecting passengers from injury, which comprises: (a) a door open-and-close mechanism linked to the vehicle door for opening and closing the vehicle door;   (b) a driving device linked to said door open-and-close mechanism for driving said door open-and-close mechanism, said driving device being provided with a normal revolution terminal and a reverse revolution terminal;   (c) a door open switch connected in series with the normal revolution terminal of said driving device for operating said driving device, when closed, in the normal direction that the door is opened;   (d) a door close switch connected in series with the reverse revolution terminal of said driving device for operating said driving device, when closed, in the reverse direction that the door is closed; and   (e) a normally-open abnormal passenger sitting position detection switch for detecting that one of the passengers is in an abnormal sitting position, said abnormal passenger sitting position detection switch being closed only when one of the passengers is in an abnormal sitting position; and   (f) a relay including: (1) a relay coil connected in series with said normally-open abnormal sitting position detection switch and energized when said abnormal detection switch is closed;   (2) a normally-closed contact connected between the reverse revolution terminal of said driving device and said door close switch, said normally-closed contact being opened when said relay coil is energized, that is, when one of the passengers is in an abnormal sitting position; and   (3) a normally-open contact connected between the normal revolution terminal of said driving device and said door close switch, said normally-open contact being closed when said relay coil is energized, that is, when one of the passengers is in an abnormal sitting position, whereby the vehicle door which is being closed is opened again if the passenger is in an abnormal sitting position.       
     
     
       7. A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle as set forth in either claim 5 or 6, wherein said abnormal passenger sitting position detection switch is of pressure-sensitive type. 
     
     
       8. A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said abnormal passenger sitting position detection switch is disposed under a seat trim near the door. 
     
     
       9. A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle as set forth in either claim 5 or 6, wherein said abnormal passenger sitting position detection switch is disposed under a door lining on an inner door panel. 
     
     
       10. A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle as set forth in either claim 5 or 6, wherein said abnormal passenger sitting position detection switch is disposed at a corner of an inner panel of the door.